Natural beauty - butterflies

Good Morning

Its the first Friday of the month so time for a new challenge over at Creative Artiste Mixed Media where the theme is anything mixed media goes, using at least 3 different mediums.

 I made this mdf plaque home decor piece for a friends birthday.  Her favourite colour is purple so I started with that.  We've had some sun this week so Ive seen a few early butterflies out, a couple of brimstones & painted ladies so spring must be here😀

This is another one I forgot to measure before posting but I think it was approx 6x10" 

See below for how I did the background.  I took the chipboard butterflies and on 2 base layers and 1 top layer 1 painted with pale and dark purple paints and then on the other 2 top layers and 1 base layer I used an interference paint which is purple until the light hits it when it turns gold.  Once dry I layered the butterflies together. 

 Inspired by my fellow DT at Creative Artiste Tracey at hotchpotchcreations who uses alot of seed beads in her creations I decided to use some of the million seed beads I have for the bodies of the butterflies - I chose beads in a mix of purples and golds, when the light hits them they really sparkle and shimmer.

I raided my stash of alphas and decided on 'natural beauty' the smaller ones are plastic ones by tim holtz which I covered with very dark green acrylic to take the plastic look away and the larger ones are chipboard which I painted with the purples used on the butterflies.  I then worked out the placement for the alphas and the butterflies and adhered all into place.

You can see the dimension on the butterflies better here and the beads give a lovely 3d effect to the bodies.  To stick the seed beads I added a good layer of tacky pva glue and waited for it to start going sticky and then added plenty of beads and pushed into the glue, once completely dry i brushed off any that hadn't stuck. 

***

onto how I did the background

I first coated the background in pink and purple acrylic paints and once dry added texture paste through a large floral stencil, this is a nice big stencil so i could easily pick out the flowers i wanted.  I edged around the flowers with green paints and then dry brushed on a yellowy orange paint to just catch the texture paste flowers 

I added gold glitter paste through a foliage stencil but it wasn't very effective, i think the glitter too chunky for the stencil so switched to gold paint instead, you can just make out both here.  Once the background was finished i coated in mod podge to seal and protect.

This is how it started off - a charity shop find for £1 - I bought it with the sole intention of upcycling it.... First i gave it a light sanding with fine sandpaper and then a coat of gesso and no one would know Tenerife was there!    I also found the pack of greyboard butterflies in the charity shop for £1 so a bargain and the starting point for this project was born.  Now that im doing more mixed media projects  I do pop in charity shops more just to see what they have that I can use as a substrate and to upcycle. Its win win as it supports the charity shop and gives me affordable bases to work on..........mind you I do also have plenty of 'proper' substrates in the cupboard but it is fun to see how something preloved can be turned into something new. 

Items Used:

MDF plaque

Maya Road Chipboard butterflies 

Cosmic shimmer glitter paste 'sahara gold'

Marabu Crea texture paste

Decoart Metallic 'splendid gold'

Pebeo & Folk art acrylic paints

Folk art 'color shift' 'blue violet flash'

Thats crafty 7x7" stencil

13@rts stencil 'tiny leaves'

Tim Holtz adhesive alphas

Chipboard alphas

Gold & Purple seed beads

So hop over to Creative Artiste to join in and see what the rest of the DT created while mixing their mediums

Thank you all for popping by once again. I am still having issues with my eyes especially close up but determined to keep crafting and now using a magnifying glass that hangs around my neck so that is helping a bit but can only do small sessions but better than no crafting! Emmax

Id love to enter the following:

https://craftingfromtheartchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/02/february-challenge-2026.html

*

https://dd-tripleb.blogspot.com/2026/03/march-2026-tb-challenge.html

*

https://stencilfun.blogspot.com/2026/03/stencil-fun-march-2026-challenge.html  I used a large floral stencil and a small foliage stencil

*

https://dragonflydreamschallenges.blogspot.com/2026/03/march-challenge-butterflies.html

*

https://tolanythingbutacard.blogspot.com/2026/02/the-outlawz-anything-but-card-march.html

*

https://www.simplyellibelle.com/2026/02/garden-party-no-12-anything-in-or-from.html

*

 

Creative Creases Aug

Good Morning everyone

This is my 2nd post this morning, if the scheduling goes to plan

I am honoured once again to be Guest DT over at Creative Creases where anything goes with a fancy fold.  

I decided to try one of the many fancy folds on my 'to try' list and make a hexagon pop up card.  After reading a few step by steps online I ended up using the one from beccys place as it was clear and easy to follow

Ive used 2 stamp sets, one leafy one from aall&create and a lovely quote from inkalicious and one ink pad which is an ombre one.

I first cut and folded the card from white linen cardstock.  Onto another piece of white I multiple stamped the leafy background stamp with an ombre ink which has lovely shades of green from lime through to a greeny blue. I then cut the panels out to fit the 6 sides of the base.  I die cut the rest of the leafy background sheet with a leafy sprig die.  Onto a white die cut circle I stamped the quote and then framed it with the die cut leaves

3 acetate butterflies to finish

Such a lovely quote... there is something very peaceful and calming about being surrounded by nothing but nature.  I love the effect of die cutting the leaves from the leafy background stamp, makes an interesting finish to them which is also softer than a solid colour would be.

On the back of the card I lined up a smaller white die cut circle with the one on the front and then added a smaller circle die cut from a pale paper for a place to write the greeting.  I also lined the inside panels with a green paper to give a more finished look.

Just showing it side on

and it folds completely flat for posting which is great.

Items Used

aall&create stamp #556 'leaves'

Inkilicious stamp 'forest quote'

CheeryLynn Foliage die

acetate butterflies (ebay find)

Kaleidacolor Ombre ink pad 'caribbean sea'

craftUk ltd 300gsm white linen card

So do hop over to Creative Creases challenge to see what everyone came up with and to join in - anything goes with a fancy fold. 

  I hope you all have a great weekend.  Big hugs Emmax

Id love to enter the following:

https://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2025/07/anything-but-square.html

**

https://traumfabrik-challenge.blogspot.com/2025/07/challenge-141-spotlight-highlight-or.html - my sentiment/quote is made the focus with the frame to draw the eye in

 

June WLS #1 - close to nature

Good Morning everyone

Time for a new challenge over at We Love Stamping with the theme this month 

CLOSE TO NATURE

or we have the anything goes option as long as you use stamping

Its not often I buy a craft magazine these days but did recently for lots of hospital visits.  It came with this set of beautiful floral and foliage stamps which Ive used to make my background design

Card size approx 8x8"  - Made by die cutting 2 of the largest fancy circle dies from white card and scoring about an inch down on one and adhered to the back of the unscored one which gives a hinge.  This also means you get the whole of the shape as the card front and its not missing a section where the spine would be.

 I die cut a piece of smooth white card to size and then stamped the images with different colours of versafine clair inks all over it.  I then die cut it into frames using the nesting dies, I skipped one layer so that they were wider frames.  I die cut a piece of pinky purple mirror card and adhered the largest outside frame with 2mm foam tape, then the next size frame with 1mm foam tape, then the next layer I adhered flat and then the smallest middle layer I adhered with 2mm foam tape again - making sure to line up the pattern. 

I die cut the sentiment from pearl teal card and adhered to a white die cut panel and added to the front.  I then die cut 2 layered butterflies with the pinky mirror & teal pearl card and added to finish. 

Showing it stood up side on, to help it stand nicely I cut a small sliver off the bottom of the back panel.  You can see the layers better here, the mirror card does just show through and catches the light.  I quite often layer cards like this just for interest and fun - it works equally well using patterned paper.

As usual taking photos of mirror card a nightmare, it is a beautiful purply pink.  Using the teal ink and card helps break up the colour.....normally im allergic to pink😁

The inside of my card.  I die cut cut paper in co-ordinating colours to the front, on the blue one I stamped some of the images to tie it in with the front. 

Items Used:

Stamps from 'simply cards & papercraft' magazine issue 268

Creative Expressions Sue Wilson sentiment die

Creative Craft Products 'large stretch label' (circle dies)

Butterfly dies

Versafine Clair inks 'warm breeze' 'purple delight' 'monarch' & 'glamorous'

Craft Consortium mirror card 'lilac'

Jellybean teal pearlised card

CraftUk ltd smooth white A4 card

We have this beautiful stamp as the prize this month supplied by Buddly Crafts - a fabulous online craft store, well worth a visit.

so do hop over to

 We love stamping

to join in and see what the rest of the DT came up with for our CLOSE TO NATURE theme

Thank you all for stopping by once again. Ive had a quiet week, snoozing and crafting - just what the doctor ordered so feeling much more human now😁  Emmax

Id love to enter the following:

https://www.simplyellibelle.com/2025/05/i-spy-with-my-little-eye-at-least-one.html

**

https://www.simplyellibelle.com/search/label/Ellibelle%27s%20Garden%20Party

**

https://craftygalscornerchallenges.blogspot.com/2025/05/challenge-267-fill-in-blank-fancy.html -

  Fancy shaped card

**

https://thesisterhoodofcrafters.blogspot.com/2025/05/51425-flowers.html

**

https://cutitupchallenges.blogspot.com/2025/05/cut-it-up-challenge-331-anything-goes.html

**

 

Butterfly suncatcher

Good Morning everyone

Its the first Friday of the month, so time for a new challenge over at Creative Artist Mixed Media challenge where the theme is always anything goes as long as you mix your medias

Ive had these empty mini perfume bottles for years, with the idea of using them for a project so the time had come to have a go......Ive made a butterfly suncatcher out of printed acetate & alcohol inks and used the mini perfume bottle for its body.

Approx size 6x6" (15x15cm)  I used a lovely printed acetate by stamperia which is really thick & strong.  I made a butterfly template from paper, drew around it with alcohol marker onto the acetate and cut out....removing any access pen marks with blending solution.

I then coloured the back of the acetate with Ranger tim holtz alcohol inks using a rainbow of colours.   Once dry I used a alcohol marker blender pen to remove some of the colour from some of the patterned areas which I then coloured with contrasting colour alcohol marker....this helps the pattern stand out a bit more and makes it more interesting to look at than block colour.

I added chuncky gold glitter paste around the outside edge of the wings - this really is glittery when the light hits it.

I filled the perfume bottle up with mini gold tube beads, wrapped with a little gold craft wire, adding a loop to the back to hang it up from.  I then adhered the bottle to the wings with some pinflair glue gel which I know lasts well in a hot sunny window so won't fall apart as the little glass bottle is quite heavy in weight.  To finish I added lime green cabochon gems to the top and bottom wings

You can see the colours better here.  What with the glitter paste, gems and gold beads the light really dances around and sparkles.

Not the best photo but this is showing it in a window with the light coming through.  With the weight of the bottle it hangs forwards a bit which actually looks like a butterfly in flight

Showing the first stage of colour with the alcohol inks

and the little bottle

Items Used:

Stamperia 'clear print' acetate 'sleeping beauty' range SBA410

Ranger Tim Holtz alcohol inks

Promarkers

Cosmic shimmer Ultra sparkle texture paste 'sahara gold'

gold tube beads

Gold soft craft wire

Mini glass bottle

Hop over to Creative Artiste Mixed Media to join in with your anything mixed media projects - cards, atc's, Journals all welcome as well as assemblage pieces - as long as you use at least 3 different medias.

Thank you all for stopping by once again.  I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Emmax

Id love to enter the following:

https://www.simplyellibelle.com/2025/04/ellibelles-garden-party-no-2-anything.html - #2

**

https://creativecraftinguncles.blogspot.com/2025/04/64-anything-but-card.html

**

https://lovetocraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2025/05/ltccb-86-anything-goes-ltccb-85-winner.html

**

https://paper-rocks-scissors.blogspot.com/2025/05/may-4-challenge.html - I used scissors to cut out the butterfly from acetate

 

40th Never ending fold card

Good Morning everyone

My sister-in-law is celebrating her 40th birthday this month.  I decided to make a never ending card for her (also known as the infinity fold)   

I dug through my 6x6 paper pads and came across this old one in shades of blue, green & yellow so just her colours.(echo park 'for the record 2') I used  black for the base card which makes the colours pop.

After making my 6x6" card, i cut panels from this gorgeous floral paper to fit the front sections.  Stamped the sentiments onto white, cut out and adhered flat - i edged the sentiments with diamond stickles glitter glue and added a little to the flower centres for some sparkle.

it opens up to this section.  I took this numeral black and white paper and coloured the numbers 4&0 with teal and yellow alcohol markers and cut to fit, i adhered them in a jumbled fashion rather than lining up as it worked better and added a bit of the coloured numerals all over rather than on just a couple of panels.  I stamped another of the sentiments on white, matted onto yellow paper and adhered flat.  I die cut 40 from white card, mounted onto black circle and more of the yellow paper die cut into an inverted circle die and added to the top panel.  I edged the black circle with glitter again to draw the eye into the 40.

this is the 3rd section, i used this doily paper from the pad. 

4th section - bit of pattern overload!  I do find it a bit of a mission using papers all from the same pad but I was determined too!  I also struggle to have to stick everything on flat - do like my dimension usually.

  I used a small floral paper from the pad on the panels and stamped butterflies onto solid papers from the pad, cut out and adhered flat - i added white pen & glitter highlights to the butterflies.  I also cut out some of the doilies from the off cuts of paper i used for section 3 and added randomly - this helped break up the background a bit and tie it in with section 3.

and this just shows how the butterfly panels open up to the front of the card again.  Its great to be able to use so many papers from a pad on one card - very busy & colourful. This will be a real celebration of a birthday as when she was first diagnosed with cancer they didn't think she would make her 40th so its extra special.

Items Used:

Echo Park paper pad 'for the record 2' by lori whitlock

technique tuesday sentiment stamp set 'Hi there'

uniko stamps - 'english country garden butterflies'

black cardstock

ranger stickles 'diamond'

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope you are enjoying this bank holiday weekend if in the UK. Emma

Id love to enter the following:

https://beautifulblossomschallenge.blogspot.com/2024/05/beautiful-blossoms-challenge-anything.html

https://pinspirationalchallenges.blogspot.com/2024/05/pinspirational-challenge-313-may.html

https://dd-tripleb.blogspot.com/2024/05/triple-b-may-2024-challenge.html - Ive used blooms & butterflies

https://craftrocketchallenges.blogspot.com/2024/05/challenge-114-flowers.html

https://secretstamper.com/2024/05/anything-goes-with-a-fun-fold-for-creative-creases-83/